Ice-can lifter



July 8 1924. 1,500,904.

T. SHIPLEY ICE CAN LIFTER Filed Dec. 10. 1923 "Patented July 8, 1924.

sures "PATENT oFFicE.

-E fi tsetse:

THOMAS 'SH'IPLEY, or YoaK, PENNSYLVANI'A.

'ICECAN' LIFTER.

Application filedDecember 10,- 1923. Serial No. 679,792.

. To (6 whom it may concern.

' draw cans from the freezing tank. Such usual type of hoist.

devices are known" to the trade as ice can lifters.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a device which is inexpensive to construct, which is easyto engage and disengage from the can, and which operates to prevent rotation of the suspended can about a vertical axis.

A preferred embodiment of the invention shown removed in the drawing to disclose the internal construction.

Fi 2 is an end view looking to the.left v relatively to Fig. 1.

In the drawing, 5orepresents the supporting bar, from which a plurality of can lifters are customarily suspended. Only one is shown in the drawing, but it'will be understood that any desired number may be used and that thebar 5 is suspended from any A clevis 6 is connected to the bar 5 by. means of a bolt 7 and carries a rigid pendent link 8 which in turn carries a second clevis 9. The clevis 9 is provided with eyes formed at their lower sides with V-notches 10. These receive trunnions 11 fixed in the actuator plate 12 of the can lifter.

The parts above described are so constructed that when a can is suspended from the hoist, rotation about a vertical axis is precluded. The use of large eyes in the clevis 9, together with the V-notches 10, is for the purpose of securing such alignment of the can when suspended, while permitting angular movement of the can lifter when not under stress, so as to permit its engagement with a can not strictly aligned with the bar 5.

The actuator 12 slides vertically between two side plates 13, and its motion is limited by a pair of bolts 14:, which connect the plates 13 and which pass through slot 15 in the actuator 12. The plates 13 are further connected by bolts 16, which serve as pivots for two swinging members 17 formed with projecting hooks 18 for engaging through the holes in the ice cans.

The bolts 14 and 16 are reduced in diameter at their threaded ends so that the nuts cannot be set up tightly enough-to clamp the plates 13 upon the actuator 12 and pivoted members 17 *The plates further are spaced apart by means of pins 19 which are reduced indiameter at their two ends and which extend between the plates 13. The pins 19 serve to support corresponding bow springs 20 which are so contrived as to urge the actuator 12 upward relatively to the plates 13. The actuator 12 is connected with the two pivoted members 17 by means of toggle links 21. These links are provided with circular enlargements 22 at their ends, and these enlargements engage in circular seats formed to receive them in the actuator 12, and pivoted members 17.

The parts are so proportioned that the operator may retract pivoted members 17 by forcing the actuator downward relatively to the side. plates 13. For the'convenience of the operator, lateral extensions 23 are formed on the actuator 12, and serve as a combined spring seat and hand hold.

{TO engage alcan with the lifter, the operator lowers the hoist over the can, forces down the hand hold 23 to retract the hooks 18, engages one hook in one hole of the can, aligns the other hook with the other hole, and then releases the member 23.

It will be observed that when the can is suspended from the hoist, the actuator 12 acts through the links 21 to preclude retraction of the hooks 18 without exerting any stress on the side walls of the can. The lifter can be automatically disengaged from the can, after the same has been deposited upon a support, by lowering the hoist far enough to cause the weight of the clevis 9 and link 8 to overpower the springs 20. No swinging of the can by lateral shocks or otherwise can cause disengagement of the hooks.

effectively locked even under a load far lighter than the weight of a full can.

The construction is simple and inexpensive, as all parts are constructed of plate or bar stock. The device offers decided advan- In fact, the toggle links 21 are so nearly in alignment that the members 17 are tages in use, because even when a plurality of lifters is used it is possible to engage a plurality of cans more or less out of alignment. Nevertheless, as soon as the cans are suspended from the hoist they are automa tically brought into alignment so that they will readily enter the can pockets.

The present application is subordinate to related application, Serial No. 679,791, filed Dec. 10, 1923. The claims of the present case are accordingly restricted to the structural details disclosed in the present application and broader claims drawn to the common subject-matter of the two cases are presented in the other application.

'l/Vhat is claimed is:

1. In {H1106 can lifter, the combination of a frame; a pair of can-engaging hooks I pivoted to said frame; a supporting memher mounted for limited sliding movement in said frame and operatively connected with said hooks to move the same'in can engaging direction under the weight of said cular ends seated in circular'rece'sses in'said supporting member and hooks confined between said plates and forming an operative connection whereby the weight of said frame when supported byzsaid member urges said hooks in engaging direction; spring means assisting such movement; and suspending means for said supporting 111GI11- ber arranged to move said member in oppojsition to said spring means by the weight of the suspending means when lowered.

3. In an ice can lifter, the combination of a frame composed of a pair of spaced plates connected together; a pair of outwardly turned can engaging hooks mounted between said plates and pivotally supported thereon; a supporting member mounted between said plates and capable of limited substantially vertical sliding movement relatively thereto; a pair of links having enlarged circular ends seated in circular recesses in said supporting member and hooks; confined between said plates and forming an operative connection whereby the weight of said frame, when supported by said member, urges said hooks in engaging direction; a bow spring structure mounted between said plates and urging said supporting member upward relatively to said frame; a hand grip formed on said supporting member by which the same may be forced downward relatively to said supporting member; and suspendingmeans for said supporting member arranged to move said member in opposition to said spring structure by the weight of the suspending means when lowered.

4. In an ice can lifter, the combination of a frame; a pair of can engaging hooks pivoted to said frame; a supporting member for said frame mounted for limited movement therein;toggle thrust links connected with said hooks and arranged to be brought approximately into alignment with each other by said supporting member when the latter moves to its limiting position under load the llnks when so aligned servlng to hold sa d hooks in can engaging position;

'and suspending means for said supporting member.

In testlmony whereof I have signed my name to this speclfication.

THOMAS SHIPLEY. 

